Sled.



J. G. VAN AKEN.

SLED.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1912.

Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

K ih I.

J. C. VAN AKEN.

SLED.

APPLICATION FILED FBB.12,

Patented Oct. .1, 1912.

2 QHEETS-SEEET 2.

HHHHIIIIIEI mm 1 UNITED STATES PATENT ornios.

JOHN c. VAN AKEN, or answer, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB To VAN AKEN MANU- FACTURING COMPANY,..A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

SLED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 12, 1912. Serial No. 677,086.

Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

To all wlwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. VAN AKEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ridgway, in the county of Elk-and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or d'lSCOV- ered certain new and useful- Improvements in Sleds, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to sleds of the typevide an improved construction of framework for supporting the body of the sled fromthe runners.

These and other objects of the invention,

7 together with means whereby the same may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following description ofone form stood, however, that the particular construction described and shown has been chosen for illustrative purposes merely and that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, showing the parts in normal position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view showing the positions of the parts when the runners have been flexed for the purpose of steering the sled. Fig. 4 is a front elevation partly broken away. Figs. 5 and dare detail perspective views, respectively, of one of the cross pieces and one of the uprights forming parts of the framework. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail sectional views on the lines 7-7 and 8--8 respectively, Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one ofthe inclined braces constituting parts of the framework. Fig.

, 10: is a detail sectional view on the line 10--10, Fig. 9.

12 denotes the runners which are preferably constructed of steel bars substantially T-shaped incross section. .Said runners extend parallel to one another and are curved upwardly at theirforward ends in the usual manner, said forward ends being connected by a cross bar 13 pivoted thereto. The top or body of the sled comprises a suitable platform'14 and a frame composed of side bars 15 above and normally parallel to the runners l2and rigidly connected at their forward ends by a cross-piece 16 immediately above and parallel to the bar 13..

The sled top or body is supported from the runners 12 by a framework comprising cross-pieces 17, uprights 18, and inclined braces 19.. The cross-pieces 17 comprise a channel bars secured; at their outer ends to the sidebars 15 and at their central portions to the platform 1 1. Intermediate the platform 14 and side bars 15t-he si de flanges of the channel bars 17 are bent lnwardly for short portions of their length forming sections 20 which are substantially triangular in cross-section, as shown most clearly in* Fig, 8. The uprights 18 also comprise channel bars bent over the channel bars 17 to form downwardly extending legs, the side flanges 21 of said channel bars being cut away, as indicated at 22 in Fig. 6, in order to cause the same to embrace the portions 20 of the bars .17 with a closely engaging fit. The lowerends of each of the legs of the uprights 18 are provided with ears 23 for attachment to the upstanding flange of the corresponding runner 12. Each of the braces 19 comprises a bar substantially V-' shaped in cross section having at its lower end cars 24 for attachment to the corresponding runner and secured at its upper end, as at 25, to the corresponding side bar 15, preferably by means permitting a slight pivotal movement of said braces with respect to said bar.

The platform 14 is preferably formed.

with a forwardly extending tongue 26 to which is pivoted, as at 27, a link or strap.

28' rigidly secured, as by bolts 29 and 30, to a steering bar-'31 extending cross-wise of the sled immediately above the side bars 15.

. The bar 13 is formed with a rearwardly extended portion 32 having a pin and slot v connection with the steering bar 31. To this viding between its oppositesides or arms a slot 33 closely engaging the bolt 30, which is extended downwardly for this purpose and is provided at its lower end-with a nut 34 and washer 35.

36 denotes a bent strap or bracket secured to the under side of the steering bar 31 and acting as afiller-piece betweensaid bar and the portion 32 of the bar 13, I I With the'construction herein shown and described it will be observed that the lateral movement ofLt-he steering bar,- and consequently of the runners, is not limited any way by the angular position of said bar,

so that 'awide range of-movement may be given thereto,-inasmuch as the port on 32 of the bar 13 may beextended toward the rear to. any desired degreewithout interference with the sled construction and with-' out presenting unsightly appearance or prop'er.

projectin beyond thjefront edge of the sled whether said steeriiig bar be in its normal eent'ralTposltion, asi'shown 1n Lorin its. operated position, as shown 1ni- Fig.f3. -.In"-a'll.similar sled constructionsof'which I, "gamaware the lateral movement of thesteer- .ing bar must, in practical use, be quite lim-' p ited,-since' in order toincrease the same-it is "necessary to extendth'e part connecting the -"steering bar'with t-he'c'rossbarl'of the run 'ners T to an undesirable extent beyond the front-of the sled, and, in'some cases to provide a certain amount ofv play-between these arts, in order to accommodate the increased ateral movement, which results in looseness or lost motion when the parts are'in their v the positive and 'reliable'control ofthe sled normal position, thereby interfering with at alltimes. These difliculties have all been 'obviatedby the present invention and a sled produced which is of simple and compact construct-ion and efiicient andreliable in its operation, 4' I oreover, fi't willbe observed-that- 1 1 the connection between'Yt-he steering bar, and

runners is, a; positive one-in all positions of: the parts, so that there is no lost "motion 30 Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A sled comprising, in combination, a top or body, a pair of parallel, laterally flex ble runners, a frame supporting said top from said runners and connecting the rearward ends of said top and runners, a bar connecting the forward ends of said runners and having a rearwardly extended portion bodilymovable transversely of said top or body, a steering bar having a pivotal connection with said top or body, and means connecting said steering bar with the rearwardlyextended portion of said connecting bar, said connecting means beingconstrucb ed and arranged to permit relative angular and longitudinal movements of said parts and to prevent relative lateral movements thereof.

2. A sled comprising, in combination, a

top or body, a pair of parallel, laterally.

said top or body and said connecting bar,

andbolts rigidly connecting said steerin 1 bar and link, oneof said bolts being exten ed to enter the slot in the rearwardly extended portion of said connectin bar.

. 3.- A' sled comprlsing paralle, laterally flexible Irunners, a bar connecting the for- ,Wardends-of said runners and having intermediate its endsa rearwardly bent, U-shaped p'ortion, atop supported from said runners,

a link ivoted to said top, a steering bar, and b0 ts rigidly connecting said steeri bar and link, one of said bolts being exten ed downwardly and lying between the arms ofsaid U-shaped portion.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN G. VAN AKEN.

Witnesses;

W. P. 'RHINESQ M. SHANLEY. 

